USPS....First class and Priority are the same

[Bad Newz Blare]

Just thought Id share some info I found about the USPS shipping services. It may end up saving money for those of you who buy,sell and trade on the forum.

A piece I read on rip off report.com

The United States Postal Service charges several $4.60 to mail a letter via Priority Mail. This is in excess of ten times the price of a First Class stamp. Priority Mail is not a guaranteed service. Typically, I have been told that my Priority Mail letters would arrive in two days.

However, the reality is that they frequently take up to a week. I finally got irked enough to call the Post Office. Here is what I was told:

USPS: Priority Mail is not a guaranteed service.
Me: I realize that but it supposed to be faster than First Class, right?
USPS: No, Priority Mail is the same as First Class.
Me: Then why did I pay extra for Priority Mail?
USPS: Because you chose to.
Me: But why does it cost more?
USPS: I'm sorry sir. Priority Mail is treated the same as First Class.
Me: But it costs ten times more! Why did I pay extra?
USPS: [pause] You chose it.

My contention is that by calling Priority Mail 'Priority Mail' but not making it a priority in any way over the lesser priced First Class, the USPS is misleading its customers in a fraudulent fashion and should be prosecuted. I would be very interested in seeing the USPS brought to justice and this practice stopped.

Seth!
Kirkland, Washington
U.S.A.

Rip-off Report: USPS Priority Mail Service Is Not A "ripoff", It Is A Fraud USPS charges extra for Priority Mail but the service does not exist. Washington District of Columbia

I also read somewhere that it makes no sense to use priority when the destination is less than 600 miles away. The only advantages to "Priority" mail is tracking.

 

[Hooyah]

thanks for sharing. but, there you have it. Priority allows for tracking a package from a vendor to a customer ("You never sent my shipment I ordered!" YES, l DID! CHECK THE TRACKING NUMBER...). Yes, no guarantee of delivery - just goes in the box (or not) without one's signiature.

 

[Majestic]

thanks for sharing. but, there you have it. Priority allows for tracking a package from a vendor to a customer ("You never sent my shipment I ordered!" YES, l DID! CHECK THE TRACKING NUMBER...). Yes, no guarantee of delivery - just goes in the box (or not) without one's signiature.

For a whole 65 cents you can add Delivery Confirmation to the First Class rate. That allows for tracking as well.

 

[Bad Newz Blare]

thanks for sharing. but, there you have it. Priority allows for tracking a package from a vendor to a customer ("You never sent my shipment I ordered!" YES, l DID! CHECK THE TRACKING NUMBER...). Yes, no guarantee of delivery - just goes in the box (or not) without one's signiature.

But they give you the impression the your shipment has "priority" when it doesnt. your paying extra money because you think you package will come faster but in reality it takes just as long as someone who paid $0.44. Its nice to be able to track your items but that luxury shouldnt be 10x more expensive.

 

[rvc]

First Class Mail allows for tracking, delivery confirmation and signature at extra cost. Problem with FCM is the 13oz weight limit. I use both services mostly FCM if it's under 13oz.

 

[feathersncream]

I sent something the other day and it was sent out 1st class but I added a tracking # for like .70cents or a doller or something like the the total was like 2 something

 

[Jayhawks]

As an ex postal employee.. There are days when the mail volume is HIGH and we have more mail than we can get delivered on that given day. We then are allowed to defer mail and packages until the next day. I can tell you that Priority Mail will go out on that given day and FCM will just have to wait until the next day or maybe even the next. But I can tell you right now, that the mail volume is down BIG TIME and they dont have enough mail to even keep them busy enough to get an 8 hr shift in. In fact its so slow right now, my mail is coming 2hrs early lately.

 

[NY JETS]

First-class ripoff: News experiment finds pricier priority mail isn't faster than 42-cent stamp

NY Daily News confirmed this a couple weeks ago with a little experiment. I've seen the NY Times try something similar a few years ago, too. The only reason to go Priority is the 13 oz rule. Luckily e-cigs aren't that heavy.

 

[MlrGrl]

As an ex postal employee.. There are days when the mail volume is HIGH and we have more mail than we can get delivered on that given day. We then are allowed to defer mail and packages until the next day. I can tell you that Priority Mail will go out on that given day and FCM will just have to wait until the next day or maybe even the next. But I can tell you right now, that the mail volume is down BIG TIME and they dont have enough mail to even keep them busy enough to get an 8 hr shift in. In fact its so slow right now, my mail is coming 2hrs early lately.

And as an ex-airline employee...
When ever we were running extremely full, especially during the holidays, the postal guy would be standing plane side with the bags containing priority mail waiting to see if we'd have any room at all to at least carry those pieces. That's where I got my crash course on priority vs FCM.

So yah; if the traffic flow is low, priority & FCM will pretty much arrive at the same time. But, if you really, really REALLY want that new battery, atty and juice yesterday, I'd take priority.

 

[OutWest]

Like others have posted, priority does get a preference over first class when there's a space or time issue. And, for what it's worth, my shipments sent priority typically get to their destination one day faster than first class.

Plus, there's the free box thing. If I provided the boxes myself I'd have to add a couple of dollars surcharge to the first class shipping, which puts the price back up in the same range as priority.

 

[robw]

First class is for letters
Priority is for packages

 

[stevejo]

First class is for letters
Priority is for packages

Not always -- we do a ton of ebay sales (unrelated business) and ship anything at all that is under the 13oz mark when packed FC. A 13oz package with DC runs $3.46, vs $4.80 for Priority. And when things get lighter, like our atomizers or batts -- it gets way cheaper.

 

[halopunker]

Even if it isn't 'guaranteed' to arrive in 2-3 days. It usually does, and typically it arrives on the second day. I've sent 3 items First Class and it took a week, and sad thing was it was in the same state.

Yet when I use Priority mail in the same state it typically arrives the next day.

So I will 'take my chances' and stick with Priority Mail.

 

[gashin]

I send everything first class using paypal's shipping service. It is VERY fast and there is tracking available for customers and myself. Last Monday I shipped a 6 oz package to NY and it got there 3 days. Everything usually gets delivered within 3-4 days.

 

[Slea]

But they give you the impression the your shipment has "priority" when it doesnt.

Yes it does.

And in the exact dictionary definition sense, no less. (#2 in my Merriam Webster)

Your package has priority over other packages, i.e. if there is a choice between forwarding your package on or a first class package, your package goes first.

It's sort of the opposite of media mail (which always goes last).

 

[Bad Newz Blare]

Yes it does.

And in the exact dictionary definition sense, no less. (#2 in my Merriam Webster)

Your package has priority over other packages, i.e. if there is a choice between forwarding your package on or a first class package, your package goes first.

It's sort of the opposite of media mail (which always goes last).

I see... but according to the USPS worker in the article its the same and you pay extra cuz you chose to.

 

[eric]

Just thought Id share some info I found about the USPS shipping services. It may end up saving money for those of you who buy,sell and trade on the forum.

A piece I read on rip off report.com

The United States Postal Service charges several $4.60 to mail a letter via Priority Mail. This is in excess of ten times the price of a First Class stamp. Priority Mail is not a guaranteed service. Typically, I have been told that my Priority Mail letters would arrive in two days.

However, the reality is that they frequently take up to a week. I finally got irked enough to call the Post Office. Here is what I was told:

USPS: Priority Mail is not a guaranteed service.
Me: I realize that but it supposed to be faster than First Class, right?
USPS: No, Priority Mail is the same as First Class.
Me: Then why did I pay extra for Priority Mail?
USPS: Because you chose to.
Me: But why does it cost more?
USPS: I'm sorry sir. Priority Mail is treated the same as First Class.
Me: But it costs ten times more! Why did I pay extra?
USPS: [pause] You chose it.

My contention is that by calling Priority Mail 'Priority Mail' but not making it a priority in any way over the lesser priced First Class, the USPS is misleading its customers in a fraudulent fashion and should be prosecuted. I would be very interested in seeing the USPS brought to justice and this practice stopped.

Seth!
Kirkland, Washington
U.S.A.

Rip-off Report: USPS Priority Mail Service Is Not A "ripoff", It Is A Fraud USPS charges extra for Priority Mail but the service does not exist. Washington District of Columbia

I also read somewhere that it makes no sense to use priority when the destination is less than 600 miles away. The only advantages to "Priority" mail is tracking.

That's a pretty rad hat in your picture, man.

Yeah, the only real reason anyone has to use Priority is if their shipments weigh in excess of 13 ounces. Bear in mind, the weight of the box is included in that 13 ounce limit.

 

[OutWest]

I see... but according to the USPS worker in the article its the same and you pay extra cuz you chose to.

I suspect that's because it's the official response. But, when you get to know you local postal workers, they'll tell you that it does get priority over first class when there's a time or space issue. At least, that's been my experience.

Of course, sometimes even priority gets delayed. I sent a priority box to a friend of mine in South Carolina and it took nearly two weeks to get to her. For some reason, when it did resurface in the postal stream, it showed up at a postal distribution center in florida *scratching head*

Despite the fact that first class mail typically takes an extra day (and sometimes longer), I do realize that some customers will prefer to have the option, especially for smaller orders.

 

[eric]

I see... but according to the USPS worker in the article its the same and you pay extra cuz you chose to.

That sounds like a disgruntled employee. You should have asked to speak to his/her manager.